Gate valve devices for hopper cars



May 11, 1965 J. w. BORGER' GATE VALVE DEVICES FOR HOPPER CARS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1961 1725.27 7: JACK W. BURGER y 1 1965 J. w. BORGER 3,182,954

GATE VALVE DEVICES FOR HOPPER CARS JACK W. BURGER May 11, 1965 J. w. BORGER GATE VALVE DEVICES FOR HOPPER CARS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 30. 1961 fig. 10.

I 76 66 12 125 17 Er JACK W. BURGER v y 11, 1965 J. w. BORGER 3,182,954

GATE VALVE DEVICES FOR HOPPER CARS Filed June 30, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 JACK W. BURGER Z55 61497714116, fi/zu'a t Wm @25 May 11, 1965 J. w. BORGER GATE VALVE DEVICES FOR HOPPER CARS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 30, 1961 JACK W. BURGER Q5 Wadi M 5 wa/zdwn .1322 E.

United States Patent Ofi ice 3,182,954 GATE VALVE DEVICES FOR HOPPER CARS Jack W. Berger, Calumet City, 111., assignor to Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 30, 1961, Ser. No. 121,060 12 Claims. ((31. 251-203) The invention relates to new and improved material unloader devices for hopper cars, such devices being particularly adapted for use with hopper cars including a single connection unloading arrangement.

Basic hopper car structure involves the provision of a plurality of longitudinally aligned and laterally paired discharge hoppers located between wheel trucks of a railway car. Each material discharge hopper is formed from downwardly depending converging wall portions and the main storage body of the car above the discharge hoppers may be undivided throughout if the car is intended for use with a single material, or may be subdivided to provide a plurality of separate hoppers if the car is to be used in the concurrent transportation of different materials. The discharge ends of the hoppers are formed with removable cover means and often in clude adjustable gating means to provide for gravity discharge of the material from the car. The top portion of the car includes removable cover plates which are used in initially loading the car and which are removed during unloading to permit the entry of air thereinto during gravity discharge.

Changes in designs of hopper cars have been proposed primarily for the purpose of eliminating gravity discharge which necessitates the utilization of special unloading areas. The-discharge ends of the hoppers have been provided with special structures permitting the attachment of a suction hose or the like thereto used in actually withdrawing the material from the hopper under suction in a substantially horizontal path for depositing of the ma terial in any desired fixed storage area adjacent or even possibly remote from the car location. This basic concept of unloading eliminates the problems of gravity unloading but tends to increase the complexities of design of the hopper car as well as the costs and ineificiencies of hopper car unloading. By way of example, unloading speed is important with regard to economical operation and it will be appreciated that gravity unloading of each hopper discharge portion can occur simultaneously Whereas suction tube unloading is limited with regard to the number of unloaders available for use with each car. Furthermore, the special design requirements for the hopper discharge end in adapting the same for suction hose unloading will complicate the car structure often leading to damaged material and will increase the cost of the car not only from the standpoint of initial investment but also with regard to operation thereof. Still another problem involves that of providing for complete cleaning out of the car when other than conventional gravity discharge unloading is utilized. Y

It is an object of the invention to provide new and improved material unloading devices particularly adapted for use with a railway operating hopper car, the devices being adapted for use in an unloading arrangement to permit selective individual hopper unloading as well as multiple hopper unloading with the use of only a single unloader vacuum system per car.

Another object is to provide a new and improved material unloading arrangement and devices therefor adapted Still a further object is to provide a new and improved gating means for the discharge end of a hopper, the gating means including a movable gate member and uniquely designed and arranged gate member operating means and lioclfing means of uncomplicated and efiiciently operating esign.

Another object is to provide a new and improved gating means for the discharge end of a hopper, the gating means including a uniquely arranged movable gate memher and cooperating air inlet means which in combination with a special gate member operating arrangement pro vides efiicient and complete hopper unloading.

Further objects not specifically set forth will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partly sectioned elevation of a hopper car having incorporated therein the unloading arrangement and devices of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan section of the car taken generally along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan View of the hopper portion of the car in FIG. 1 illustrating the unloading arrangement, the wheel trucks of the car having been deleted from this view;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the center duct portion of the arrangements;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partial transverse section of the duct portion of FIG. 4 taken generally along line 5-5 therein;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, partly sectioned plan view of an unloading duct outlet portion forming a part of the unloading arrangement;

FIG. 7 is a partly sectioned elevation of the unloading duct portion of FIG. 6 as viewed generally along line 7-7 therein; i

FIG. 8 is an enlarged top plan view of a discharge device of the invention as viewed generally along line 88 in FIG. 1; i V FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section of the discharge device of FIG. 8 taken generally along line 9-9 therein;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged transverse section of the. device of FIG. 8 taken at right angles to the section of FIG. 9 as viewed generally along line 10-10 in FIG. 8; a

FIG. 11 is a View similar to FIG. 8 illustrating the discharge device in its open operative position;

FIG. 12 is a transverse section of the device of FIG. 11 taken generally along line 12-12therein; p l

FIG. 13 is an enlarged transverse section of the device of FIG. 11 taken at right angles to the section of FIG. 12 as viewed generally along line 13- 13 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified air inlet arrangement; and

FIG. 15 is a transverse section of the air inlet arrangemerit of FIG. 14 taken generally along line 15- 15 therein.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a hopper car It equipped with the material unloading arrangement and devices of the present invention, is somewhat diagrammatically illustrated. The basic structure of the car 10 may be of any-suitable design as such structure does not constitute a part of the invention. Generally, the car 10 includes opposite end structures 11 1 suitably intercomnected by an underframe, side frames and top frame (not specifically identified) and receiving centrally thereofin longitudinally extending relation a main storage bin structure 12. As illustrated, the main bin '12 is ,of generally rectangular outline alongthe top portion thereof and is provided with a number of material loading openings 13 extending along the top thereof with each'opening being covered by a removableclosure 14 of any suitable type. The bottom portion of the main bin 12 is Patented .May 11, 1965 formed into a plurality of discharge hoppers each generally designated by the numeral 15. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hoppers are arranged in transversely paired relation with a plurality of such pairs extending longitudinally of the car 10. Each hopper 15 is defined by four downwardly converging wall sections 16, 17, 18 and 19. The Wall sections terminate at the bottom of each hopper 15 in a generally square opening 20 in which is mounted a hopper unloading device 21 constituting a part of the invention. 7

The endmost pairs of hoppers 15 are transversely interconnected through their unloading devices 21 by means of a duct 22 of a width which is substantially equal to the width of the unloading devices 21. The centrally paired hoppers 15 have their unloading devices 21 transversely interconnected through a central duct member 23 which, with regard to its opposite end portions that are connected tothe unloading devices 21, is of a width substantially equal to that of the unloading devices. The transverse ducts 22 and 23 are longitudinally interconnected by ducts 24 which extend centrally of the car It Each of the ducts 24 is provided with a discharge duct portion 25 connected thereto at right angles and directed toward one side of the car 10. Each discharge duct portion 25 is formed with a removable closure device 26 to which a suction hose or tube may be suitably attached for material unloading through the combined duct portions of the hoppers 15. The material discharge duct portions 25 extend in opposite directions, thus providing access to one thereof from each side of the car 10 for material unloading from either side of the car 10. As will be subsequently described, each material discharge device 21 is designed for independent operation by operating means which are available from the side of the car 10 to which the discharge device is adjacent. In this manner, each individual discharge device 21 is subject to independent operation thus providing for selective opening of the hoppers 15. Such an arrangement is of particular importance where the hoppers 15 are completely separated from one another and do not merely form one of the discharge areas of a main storage bin such as the bin 12 illustrated. By reason of the duct arrangement described, individual or selective simultaneous unloading of the hoppers 15 may be accomplished by a single vacuum system connection made from either side of the car 10. Thus one or more hoppers 15 may be individually or simultaneously unloaded while using merely a single hose connection in just one location. This particular arrangement permits fast and efficient unloading with minimum labor and equipment costs.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate certain structural details of the central duct portion 23 adapted to interconnect the cen tnal discharge devices 21 with the longitudinal duct portions 24 for unloading thereof. The central duct portion 23 includes oppositely positioned narrowed throat portions 27 each provided with a radially directed attachment flange 28 designed for fixed attachment to a similar flange 29 formed on an end of a longitudinal duct portion 24. Suitable fastening means such as rivets 30 may be used to form the connection. The central duct portion 23 further includes oppositely directed wide throat portions 31 which are suitably attached by band-like members 32 to duct-like discharge members 33 forming a part of the discharge devices 21. As shown in FIG. 5, the top wall portion of the duct 23 is formed with upwardly inclined, converging wall portions 34 which are joined with a flat central wall portion 35 to define an internal longitudinally extending area conforming to the configuration of the longitudinal duct portions 24. This design provides for an increased material discharge area extending longitu dinally of the car 10 to accommodate the greatest possible volume of material being discharged from the car 10 under conditions when all of the discharge devices 21 are opened.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the details of structure of the laterally projecting material discharge duct portions 25. Each duct portion 25 is in the form of a T having a longitudinally extending portion provided at opposite ends thereof with attaching flanges 36 to which are attached longitudinally extending duct portions 24 by means of corresponding flanges 37 carried on the ends thereof, the flanges being fixedly secured by suitable fasteners such as rivet-s 38. The duct portion 25 includes the laterally projecting material discharge portion 39 provided with an attachment flange 40 at the open end thereof which is secured by rivets 41 or the like to a similar attachment flange 42 carried on the base of a vacuum hose connection portion or discharge nozzle 26. This element includes a tapered base portion terminating in an outwardly projecting nozzle 43 adapted to receive thereabout a vacuum hose. A closure member 44 is designed to be received over the open end of the nozzle 43 and clamped thereto by a clamping screw 45 threadedly carried in a clamping bracket 46 which is pivotally mounted on the nozzle 43 inwardly of the discharge end thereof through suitable pins 47. A chain 48 is secured to one of the pins 47 at one end thereof and is attached at the other end thereof to the closure 44 to prevent misplacement thereof when the same is removed from the nozzle 43 as shown in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the structural details of each hopper discharge device 21. The device comprises a frame member of generally square outline formed from side plate members which, as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, include an upper inclined plate portion 49 joined at the base thereof with a vertical plate portion 50 which terminates in a radially outwardly directed flange portion 51. The outermost side plate member adjacent a side of the car 10 and paralleling the same as viewed on the left in FIGS. 8 and 9 is provided with an aperture 52 through which the operating mechanism for a gate member forming a part of the device extends. The oppositely positioned, inwardly located side plate member as viewed on the right in FIGS. 8 and 9 is formed with a relatively large material discharge aperture 53 which is of substantial width and which is in communication with the material discharge duct portion 33 previously described. The upper inclined plate portions 49 are suitably secured to the converging wall portions 16-19 of a hopper 15.

The side plate members of the frame each carry a cooperating inwardly directed flange-like member 54 which functions as a gate member top guide with the combined inner surfaces of the flange members 54 defining the discharge opening 20 previously described. Suitably seated below the guides 54 is a gasket 55 which bears against the top surface of a gate member 56 received Within the discharge device 21 below the discharge opening 20. The gate member 56 as best shown in FIG. 9 includes a square flat plate section 57 having suitably secured thereto along one edge thereof a relatively thick operating rod 58 which extends outwardly of the device 21 .through the aperture 52 and which terminates in a transverse handle member 59. The inner bottom surface portion of the operating rod 58 has suitably secured thereto a lifter plate 60 which is beveled along an outer surface thereof and which, in the closed position of the gate member as shown in FIG. 9, is received in the aperture 52 to seal the same. The top surface of the operating rod 58 fixedly carries thereon a guide plate 61 which is beveled along an inner surface thereof and is adapted to be received in the aperture 52 when the gate member is in its open position as will be described.

Directly below the gate member 56 along opposite edges thereof are gate member guide plates 62 which as best shown in FIG. 10 are arranged to support the closure portion 57 of the gate member 56 thereon when the same is being operated to uncover the discharge opening 20. Extending transversely across the interior of the discharge device 21 below the gate member 56 and generally centrally thereof is a locking rod 63 which as shown in FIG. is journaled at its innermost end in a journal block 64 suitably mounted on a side plate member of the device 21 and extends outwardly from the device 21 through an aperture 65 in the opposite side plate member which has associated therewith a supporting journal member 66. The outermost end of the rod is formed with a depending handle portion 66 which is readily accessible as shown in FIG. 3 for operation of the locking device. The central portion of the rod 63 within the discharge device 21 has fixedly mounted thereon a pair of spaced earn lock members 67. These members are eccentrically mounted on the rod 63 to provide tor engagement of the peripheries thereof with the bottom surface of the gate member 56 as shown in FIG. 9 to urge the same upwardly against the gasket 55 and lock the gate member in covering relation over the discharge opening 26. A look washer 6 8 is fixed to the rod 63 to prevent disengagement of the inner end thereof from the journal member 64 when .the locking means is in its inoperative position.

As best shown in FIG. 9, the discharge duct portion 33 of the device 21 is of rectangular shape and the top wall portion thereof immediately outwardly of the aperture 53 is formed with a plurality of air inlet apertures 69. The top surface of the duct portion 33 has received thereover plate members 70 and 7 1 which define in association with the top surface of the duct portion 3 3 a gate member storage housing 72,. The end plate 71 is provided with a suitable opening 73 through which air is drawn into the storage housing 72 through the aperture 69 into the duct portion 33 during material unloadingoperations.

The discharge device 21 is completed by the provision of a bottom cover plate '74 which is suitably secured to the bottom radial flange portions 51 of the side plate members by fasteners '75. A gasket 76 seals the connection of the cover plate 7 to the device. This cover plate may be readily removed where gravity unloading is desired.

FIGS. 8-10 as described above illustrate the discharge device 21 under hopper closing and sealing conditions; The gate member 56 extends across the discharge opening in fully covering relation and the cam lock members 67 are in engagement with gate member 56 and tightly hold the same against the sealing gasket 55. The guide plate 6t) on the operating rod 58 seals oif the aperture 52. FIGS. 11-13 illustrate the discharge device 21 in its open condition during material discharge from a hopper 15. Rotation of the locking rod 63 results in disengagement of the cam lock members 67 with the bottom surface of the gate member 56. The operator grasps the operating handle 59 and pushes inwardly to move the gate member toward the storage housing 72. Slight movement of the gate member results in movement of the lifting plate 69 out of the aperture 52 thus permitting the operating rod 58 to drop in the aperture 52 resulting in a lowering of the thin gate portion 57 out of engagement with the gasket 55 and into resting engagement with the guide members 62 as shown in FIG. 13. Continued inward movement of the operating rod 58 results in the sliding of the gate member 56 along the guide members 62 into the storage housing 72 as best shown in FIG. 12. Further control of the sliding movement is provided by the receiving of the guide plate 61 carried on the operating rod 53 in the top portion of the aperture 52. This plate further performs the function of completely sealing off the aperture 52 as the bottom surface of the operating rod now engages the bottom surface of the aperture 52. Inward movement of the operating rod 58 is continued until the gate portion 57 is adequately received in the storage housing 72 as shown in FIG. 12 with the discharge opening 2t? fully uncovered as shown in FIG. 11. r r

The vacuum system connection is made as previously described andsuction drawn through the duct portion 33 results inthe intake of air through the opening '73 and apertures 69 for the Withdrawal of material from the hopper 15 which is moving downwardly through the dis charge opening .26. As material unloading progresses to an extent that the material within" the hopper is substantially reduced in depth, the gate member 56 may be moved toward the closed position to cover the discharge opening 20 to any extent desired thus preventing vacuum loss through the accumulated material. In bringing this about, the guide plate 61 is of substantial length along the operating rod 58 so that the aperture 52 is completely closed regardless of the position of the gate member short of the fully closed position. Thus vacuum loss through the aperture 52 is prevented. The thin gate portion 57 or" the gate portion 56 is loosely received in the storage housing 72 to permit the flow of air thereinto through the apertures 69 into the duct portion 33.

Gate member closing operation is brought about by reversing the procedure described above. The operating handle is pulled outwardly and upon movement of the operating rod beyond the inner end of the guide plate 61, the bottom guide plate 60 is received in the aperture 52 and the gate member 56 is lifted by reason of the beveled edge of the plate 60 into discharge opening sealing relation. The locking rod 63 is then operated to rotate the cam lock member 67 into engagement with the gate member 56 and tightly lock the same in discharge opening sealing relation.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a modification of the air intake and gate member storage duct portion 33'. This duct portion as best shown in FIG. 15 is formed from a bottom plate 77, a top plate 78 and an intermediate riblike gate member support plate 79. The gate member 56 is adapted to be stored'in the storage area between the top plate 78 and the support plate 79 in the manner previously described. The storage housing 80 includes continuous. side plates 81 and the bottom duct portion includes side plates S2 which are provided with a plurality of longitudinally aligned air intake apertures 83. The side plates 81 have attached to the outer surfaces thereof guide brackets 84 which cooperate with guide brackets attached to the bottom plate 77 to define therebetween oppositely opening, longitudinally extending guide slots in which an orifice plate 86 is received along each side of the duct portion 33'. Each orifice plate 86 covers the air intake apertures 83 associated therewith when the plate is fully received in the guides 84 and 85 as shown in FIG. 14. The outer end of each orifice plate 86 is provided with a fixed block-like handle portion 87 which is grasped by the operator to slide the orifice plate out-' wardly to successively expose a predetermined number of apertures 83. Through the adjustable orifice means described, the amount of air intake into the duct portion 33' may be controlled at will to accommodate efiicient material discharge from the associated hopper through the discharge duct system previously described.

The particular material discharge devices 21 of the present invention by reason of their unique features of design provide for complete material removal from the hoppers 15 associated therewith. Additional car cleanout is eliminated thus resulting in reduced labor costs. Maximum sanitation conditions are maintained by the provision of the completely closed material discharge system'by means of which the material is directly delivered into the unloading vacuum system without being exposed to external sources of contamination. As previously described, selective unloading of one or more hoppers is possible by reason of the arrangement described thus providing for maintenance of maximum sanitation conditions under a variety of selective unloading conditions and additionally providing for improved efiiciency in overall operational use of the hopper car. 7

()bviously certain modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without 1. In a hopper, the provision of gating means defining the discharge end of said hopper, said gating means comprising a housing defining a discharge opening, a gate member mounted in said housing for movement across said discharge opening to open and close the same, operating means engaged with said gate member to move the same across said discharge opening, cam means forming a part of said operating means to move said gate member into and out of closing relation with said discharge opening to facilitate movement of said gate member across said discharge opening, and cam lock means forming a part of said housing below said gate member to lock the same in discharge opening covering relation, said cam lock means including cam members eccentrically mounted on rod means having an operating portion available externally of said housing, said cam members engaging and clamping said gate member into sealed relation with said housing over said discharge opening upon operation of said rod means.

2. The gating means of claim 1 wherein said gate member is in the form of a flat plate which is movable across said housing, said housing including an aperture in a side wall portion thereof through which an operating handle of said said operating means connected to said gate member extends, said operating handle having a beveled block-like means thereon forming a part of said cam means which is received in said aperture and engages an edge thereof to seal said aperture and cam said gate member into closing relation with said discharge opening.

3. The hopper gating means of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a removable bottom cover plate to permit gravity discharge therethrough.

4. The gating means of claim 1 wherein said houshousing includes gate member supporting guides on which said gate member moves upon movement thereof out of closing relation with said discharge openin 5. In a hopper, the provision of gating means defining the discharge end of said hopper, said gating means comprising a housing defining a discharge opening, a gate member mounted in said housing for movement across said discharge opening to open and close the same, operating means for said gate member, said housing along one side thereof below said gate member being in communication with external laterally projecting duct-like discharge means, and a gate member storage means forming a part of said duct-like means in axial alignment with said gate member and externally of said housing to receive said gate member therein during discharge through said discharge opening.

6. In a hopper, the provision of gating means defining the discharge end of said hopper, said gating means comprising a housing defining a discharge opening, a gate member mounted in said housing for movement across said discharge opening to open and close the same, operating means for said gate member, said housing along one side thereof below said gate member being in communication with external laterally projecting duct-like discharge means, and a gate member storage means forming a part of said duct-like means in axial alignment with said gate member and externally of said housing to receive said gate member therein during discharge through said discharge opening, said operating means for said gate member comprising cam lock means forming a part of said housing below said gate member to lock the same in discharge opening covering relation, said cam lock means including cam members eccentrically mounted on said rod means having an operating portion available externally of said housing, said cam members engaging and clamping said gate member into sealed relation with said housing over said discharge opening upon operation or" said rod means.

7. In a hopper, the provision of gating means defining the discharge end of said hopper, said gating means comprising a housing defining a discharge opening, a gate member mounted in said housing for movement across said discharge opening to open and close the same, operating means for said gate member, said housing along one side thereof below said gate member being in communication with external laterally projecting duct-like discharge means, said duct-like means including an apertured air inlet and gate member storage chamber formed along the top surface thereof which is in communication with said housing in axial alignment with said gate member and externally of said housing to receive said gate member therein during discharge through said discharge opening, said operating means for said gate member comprising cam lock means forming a part of said housing below said gate member to lock the same in discharge opening covering relation, said cam lock means including cam members eccentrically mounted on rod means having an operating portion available externally of said housing, said cam members engaging and clamping said gate member into sealed relation with said housing over said discharge opening upon operation of said rod means. i

8. In a hopper, the provision of gating means defining the discharge end of said hopper, said gating means comprising a housing defining a discharge opening, a gate member mounted in said housing for movement across said discharge opening to open and close the same, operating means for said gate member, said housing along one side thereof below said gate member being in communication with external laterally projecting duct-like discharge means, said duct-like means including a gate member storage and apertured air inlet chamber formed along the top surface thereof which is in communication with said housing in axial alignment with said gate member and externally of said housing to receive said gate member therein during discharge through said discharge opening.

9. In a hopper, the provision of gating means defining the discharge end of said hopper, said gating means comprising a housing defining a discharge opening, a gate member mounted in said housing for movement across said discharge opening to open and close the same, operating means for said gate member, said housing along one side thereof below said gate member being in communication with duct-like discharge means, said ductlike means including a gate member storage and air inlet chamber formed along the top surface thereof which is in communication with said housing to receive said gate member therein during discharge through said discharge opening, the side surfaces of said duct-like means including adjustable orifice means for air intake thereinto.

10. The gating means of claim 9 wherein said adjustable orifice means of said duct-like means comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending apertures in said duct-like means, and a plate member slidably mounted over said apertures which upon movement uncovers a selected member of said apertures.

11. In a hopper, the provision of gating means defining the discharge end of said hopper, said gating means comprising a housing defining a discharge opening, a gate member mounted in said housing for movement across said discharge opening to open and close the same, operating means for said gate member, said housing along one side thereof below said gate member being in communication with duct-like discharge means, said duct-like means including a gate member storage and air inlet chamber formed along the top surface thereof which is in communication with said housing to receive said gate member therein during discharge through said discharge opening, the side surfaces of said duct-like means includ ing an adjustable orifice means for air intake thereinto, said operating means for said gate member comprising cam lock means forming a part of said housing below said gate member to lock the same in discharge opening covering relation, said cam lock means including cam members eccentrically mounted on rod means having an operating portion available externally of said housing, said cam members engaging and clamping said gate member 2,030,553 2/36 Tiley 214-8328 into sealed relation with said housing over said discharge 2,614,792 10/52 Trefil 251-203 opening upon operation of said rod means. 2,631,759 3/53 Hoopes 137-240 X 12. The gating means of claim 11 wherein said adjust- 52,946 9/ 53 Beatty 251-204 X able orifice means of said duct-like means comprises a 5 2,625,196 11/ 54 Talmey plurality of longitudinally extending apertures in said 2,787,438 4/ 57 Bauer 251-329 X duct-like means, and a plate member slidably mounted 2,901,133 3/59 Weller 214-8338 over said apertures which upon movement uncovers a 3,020,092 2/62 Dorey 302-52 selected number of said apertures. 3061266 10/62 Hofiknecht 251 204 X 10 FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 35 5 0 1 9 Hegarty 5 ISADOR WEIL, Primary Examiner.

653,600 7/00 Wiley 251-403 X 15 ANDREW H. NIELSON, CLARENCE R. GORDON, 1,643,063 9/27 Duffy 251-203 Examiners.

929,920 7/55 Germany. 

5. IN A HOPPER, THE PROVISION OF GATING MEANS DEFINING THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID HOPPER, SAID GATING MEANS CONPRISING A HOUSING DEFINING A DISCHARGE OPENING, A GATE MEMBER MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR MOVEMENT ACROSS SAID DISCHARGE OPENING TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE SAME, OPERATING MEANS FOR SAID GATE MEMBER, SAID HOUSING ALONG ONE SIDE THEREOF BELOW SAID GATE MEMBER BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH EXTERNAL LATERALLY PROJECTING DUCT-LIKE DISCHARGE MEANS AND A GATE MEMBER STORAGE MEANS FORMING A PART OF SAID DUCT-LIKE MEANS IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID GATE MEMBER AND EXTERNALLY OF SAID HOUSING TO RECEIVE SAID GATE MEMBER THEREIN DURING DISCHARGE THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING. 